Ballard
BALLARD CORNERS PARK
17th Avenue Northwest
Between NW 62nd and NW 63rd
Map
Located in a quiet Ballard neighborhood this “pocket park” is a delightful place to take a break when on a walk. The kids play area and open green space is great, but when The Bearded One and I read about the art work on display, we just had to make a trip to see it for ourselves. At first glance the living room appears to be cast off furniture, left there as a prank. However, upon closer examination, it was confirmed that the living room suite was indeed all made of concrete.
Ballard Street Market
Ballard Ave between 20th Ave NW and 22nd Ave NW in Ballard.
Summer Hours April thru November 10: a.m. to 3:p.m.
Winter Hours December thru March 11: a.m. to 3: p.m.
Phone 206 781 6776
Admission: Free
Ballard Street Market Website
map
The Ballard Market is a diverse European style, world flea market/farmers markets that go all year around every Sunday, rain or shine. The Ballard Market is more Farmer’s market oriented, fresh fruits, veggies, fish, honey, sauces, just like down on the farm, Fresh and Organic being the bywords. But Ballard also has craft and artisan offerings that will delight the shopper or collector, as well.
Ballard - Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
3015 NW 54th St
Seattle, WA 98107
Phone 206 783 7059
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks Website
map
Daily 7am to 9pm,
Visitor Center: May thru Sept, daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Oct thru Apr, Thurs thru Mon 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: Free
There is something about watching the boats, from large barges to sea going kayaks, being shuttled to and from the Puget Sound and LakeUnion, or salmon climbing the fish ladders, that’s good for the soul. Bring a picnic lunch; yes we do have sunny days, relax for awhile. The grounds around the locks and visitor center are home to the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Garden and a city park filled with rare and unusual shrubs and trees, providing guests with a lovely place to stroll and picnic. Special events, including live music and garden shows, take place on the grounds throughout the summer.
Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden
3015 NW 54th Street
Seattle, Washington, WA 98107
Admission: Free
Parking: Free
Hours: 7: a.m. to 9: p.m.
Visitor: Center May thru September 10: a.m. to 6: p.m.
Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden Website
map
Carl S. English spent 43 years turning 7 acres of eye-sore gravel dump into this beautiful botanical garden; where you can enjoy a stroll through over 500 species and 1,500 varieties of plants from around the world. The gardens are especially beautiful in the spring and summer months. If you go to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, make this stop a part of your day.
Nordic Heritage Museum
3014 NW 67th Street
Seattle, WA 98117
Phone 206 789 5707
www.nordicmuseum.org
map
Admission $6 and under Parking Free
Free all day on the 1st Tuesday of each month 10: am to 4: pm
Relive the Dream of America that brought the Scandinavian immigrants west to Seattle as you visit Iceland Room, Norway Room, Denmark Room, Finland Room, and Sweden Room in Seattle’s Nordic district of Ballard. Only minutes from Downtown Seattle.
Golden Gardens Park in Ballard
8498 Seaview Pl. NW
(206) 684-4075
6: a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Admission: Free
Golden Gardens Park Website
map
Golden Gardens Park, located in Ballard on the Puget Sound, is a great place to spend a few hours, soaking up sun on the sandy beach, or taking a stroll along the rugged coastline. You can play Frisbee or fly a kite, build a fire and roast weenies, fish from the pier or explore the wetlands. There is a playground for the kids and an off-leash area for dogs in the upper northern portion. Oh, and did I mention, this beach offers spectacular sunsets for the more romantic inclined. And there is plenty of free parking.
Shilshole Bay
Shilshole Bay and Shilshole Bay Marina are on the stretch of Seaview Ave NW between the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and Golden Gardens Park. You might want to take time out to dream about owning a sailing yacht, or stop for lunch or dinner in one of the fine restaurants, or maybe hire a fishing guide and trying your hand at fly fishing for Salmon.
Some say Shilshole was derived from the Duwamish word for “threading a needle” and that the name referred to the narrow passage way where Salmon Bay empties into Shilshole Bay.
Ballard: The Town Nobody Wanted
In 1887 Ballard came to be as the result of a coin toss… Captain William Rankin Ballard lost and, as a penalty, had to take the land bordering and adjacent to Salmon Bay. It was the place no one else wanted. It was also the end of the line for the railroad because there was no trestle across Salmon Bay and the railroad chose not to build one. People on their way to Seattle had to walk across the wagon bridge and continue the journey to Seattle. And because of that, Ballard’s first lumber mill was built in 1889, followed by a shingle mill that same year and The Great Seattle Fire of 1889. All of which brought a slew of people to work and live in Ballard. By 1900 the population of Ballard had blossomed to 4568 and in 1907, with a population of 17,000 residents, the second largest city in King County, the place nobody wanted, Ballard was annexed and became a part of Seattle.
Ballard is located in the northwestern part of Seattle. To the north it is bounded by Crown Hill, ( N.W. 85th Street); to the east by Phinney Ridge and Fremont (along 8th Avenue N.W.); To the south by the Lake Washington Ship Canal; and to the west by Puget Sound’s Shilshole Bay. Ballard is the traditional center of Seattle's Scandinavian seafaring community, who are to this day very proud of their Nordic Heritage -- Ya sure you betcha! This interesting and unique neighborhood offers many venues for live music, including bars, coffee shops and a variety of restaurants.
